Chapter 728: The Creator

Following Sokabus and Luna, Lolth slowly entered the temple.

Though Luna knew the way, it was clear she hadn’t frequented the temple’s interior often, for her pace slowed unavoidably. After all… the temple’s interior was rather labyrinthine in design.

Lolth had little mind left for contemplation. The temple’s interior, unsurprisingly, presented her with a landscape steeped in dissonance. While its exterior mimicked archaic architecture, within… it transformed into something distinctly futuristic.

The dome, floor, and walls—though weathered, cracked, and veiled in dust—bore the metallic sheen of some futuristic alloy. The cavernous hall housed rows of enormous transparent cylinders, their surfaces cracked and bases sprouting metallic tendrils. Many still held remnants of emerald liquid that gurgled faintly within their half-filled chambers.

"What’s the meaning of these cultivation tank replicas…?" Lolth murmured, an intense wave of déjà vu crashing over her anew.

No—this surpassed mere déjà vu. Where the temple’s exterior had evoked vague recognition, these inner mechanisms struck deeper than familiarity. She knew this place intimately. Not through earthly memories, but rather…

She must have walked these halls before arriving in this world, before the veil of amnesia descended. Of this, Lolth felt utterly certain. Yet certainty bred greater mysteries—had she truly been here? What did this signify?

The mere effort to recall sent jagged pain lancing through her skull. She pressed trembling fingers to her temples, hissing through clenched teeth. "Hiss—" Yet this physical agony paled against the turmoil clawing at her soul.

The sound drew immediate attention. Luna and Sokabus turned, their expressions layered with concern. "Lolth… you’re unwell?" Luna inquired, while Sokabus halted mid-stride.

"Shall we pause here?"

Lolth shook her head sharply. "Unnecessary."

With a reluctant nod, Luna guided them onward through the eerie chamber. Beyond the silent ranks of cylinders…

There stood smooth, black monoliths rising from the earth like tombstones, their surfaces gleaming under dim light. Some bore faint markings resembling erased texts and symbols worn by time. To distract herself from the agony, Lolth studied these stone tablets intently.

They felt even more familiar now…

The engraved symbols, intricate patterns, and calligraphic strokes… all achingly recognizable. Yet this familiarity only amplified her suffering.

"Lolth, come—kill me!"

"Failure after failure after failure…"

"Don’t fret, Lolth! Seven thousand six hundred attempts remain!"

"Can this cobbled-together authority forged from shattered concepts truly succeed?"

"We must try regardless!"

"How can I rest in death without slaying her first?"

The cacophony of overlapping voices nearly sent her into a daze, phantom shouts echoing through her consciousness. Her legs buckled as her very soul threatened to unravel.

Just as Sokabus and Luna remained oblivious to Lolth’s distress, movement stirred against her chest. The small black creature she’d carried earlier emerged from her robes. It had lain dormant since their arrival, but now awakened fully.

The beast’s warmth and velvety fur against her skin brought unexpected comfort, causing the soul-deep memories triggered by the environment to retreat like ebbing tides.

"What… am I truly?" Lolth whispered, fingers massaging her temples.

Her introspection shattered when Luna’s cheerful declaration rang out: "We’re here!"

Following the elf’s gesture, Lolth beheld a massive surgical platform crowned with countless mechanical arms. Tubes snaked between drill bits, laser scalpels, and sensor probes—an amalgamation of arcane and technological might. Though resembling sci-fi machinery, every surface bore intricate runes pulsing with magic essence.

Lolth blinked in recognition. "Of course… This belongs to this world’s essence." The residual magical fluctuations in nearby containment vats confirmed it—despite its futuristic appearance, this creation obeyed local mystical laws. Yet its design philosophy differed entirely from native magical constructs.

"Are we certain this death-trap relates to soul mending?" Sokabus tugged Luna’s sleeve, concern etching her features.

"Sixty-five percent minimum confidence!" Luna replied, thumb brushing her chin. "Those stone tablets took ages to decipher—their syntax was bizarre—but multiple passages mention spiritual restoration. It’s probably safe despite looking… intense."

At Sokabus’s skeptical glare, the priest grinned impishly. "Relax, Chief—I tested it myself! Just sit, channel magic, and let the scanners work. Cleared my mental fog rather nicely!"

Sokabus pinched her brow. "Reckless… but noted. No more solo experiments."

"As my Chief commands." Luna turned to Lolth. "You heard the risks. Still willing?"

"Absolutely." Rubbing her temples, Lolth approached the apparatus with strange certainty.

After all…

This machine might well be her own creation.